The finalists, consisting of 15 players and three coaches/contributors, were selected from a field of more than 200 nominees by the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee composed of past head football coaches Dick Tomey (Chairman), LaVell Edwards, Ron McBride and Dick Vermeil, ESPN SportsCenter anchor Neil Everett, NFL player personnel expert Gil Brandt, past NFLPA president and Inaugural Inductee Kevin Mawae and Hawai’i sportscaster Robert Kekaula.
The committee will meet again to select six members (five players and one coach/contributor) who will be inducted as the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Class of 2017.